KK Palmerino Studies Abroad in Denmark

KK Palmerino in front of houses in Denmark

Posted: Jun 29, 2018

BEVERLY, Mass. - Endicott softball student-athlete KK Palmerino. (Glenmont, NY.) recently studied abroad in Denmark. ECGulls caught up with Palmerino to find out more about her experience.

ECGulls: Give us an overall description of your trip.

I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark for the duration of the 2017 fall semester, from August 19th to December 12th. Denmark is the southernmost of the Scandinavian nations and its southern border is Germany. Denmark's capital, Copenhagen, is the most populated city in Denmark and is home to all things Danish.

ECGulls: Describe your overall study abroad experience

Studying abroad is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was fortunate enough to indulge in a completely new culture and create memories, friendships, and experiences that will last a lifetime. In the classroom, I was able to study topics from a different culture's perspective and explore areas that I may not have had the chance to do at Endicott. I lived in the heart of Copenhagen in an apartment with 10 other American students who became my closest friends and traveled the world with me. I would not trade any moment I had abroad for the world because I learned so much about myself and my future. One of my favorite parts about Copenhagen is that it is the #1 biking city in the world. I rode a bike every single day I was abroad whether it was to class, the gym, or just exploring the city.

ECGulls: Why would you recommend studying abroad to other students?

Studying abroad opens you up to an overwhelming amount of opportunities, experiences, and connections all around the world. I believe there is no better time study and travel than when you are in college. The Endicott faculty and staff provide so much support and information about your potential abroad opportunities that it makes it easy and appealing to apply and study abroad.

ECGulls: What was the biggest lesson you learned?

While abroad, the biggest lesson I learned was to live in the moment and say yes to more opportunities. Everyone tells you that your semester abroad will fly by in the blink of an eye, but you don't believe them until you are packing up to make the trip home. I found that by being more adventurous and taking advantage of opportunities, I learned a lot more about the Danish culture, the people I spent my time abroad with, and what I want to do with my future.

ECGulls: What was your favorite experience?

My favorite experience abroad was when I got to go on study tours with my Graphic Design Core Course class. We road tripped through Western Denmark for 3 days, as well as traveled to The Netherlands for a week. During our time traveling, we visited countless design firms and museums that taught me a lot about my major and Danish design. The best part about traveling as a class was that I got to bond with some of my closest friends and favorite professors abroad, which resulted in close relationships in the classroom.

ECGulls: Describe the educational side of the program.

DIS offers a very wide range of classes for students to take. Each student selects a core course class that relates to their major in the States, and then the rest is up to them. I was enrolled in a Graphic Design Foundations core course, and for my electives, I chose Danish Language and Culture, Criminology and Justice in Scandinavia, as well as International Advertising in a European Context. In Denmark, the student/teacher relationship is much different than in the United States. Professors prefer to be called by their first name and often meet with their students outside of the classroom to grab lunch or coffee while discussing schoolwork. This approach to teaching made it a lot less intimidating than I had expected it to be and it helped us create relationships with our professors that translated into more productive conversation during class.

ECGulls: Were there any funny stories from your trip?

Roughly a month into my time abroad, I met another student named Shannon who played softball at the University of Redlands in California. We both brought our gloves with us and decided to go play catch a few times a week. Down the street from my apartment was the Rosenborg Castle, which was surrounded by Kongens Have, a large public park. The first day we got together to play catch, we decided to play in front of the castle. Before we knew it, we had a crowd of Danes surrounding us in awe because most of them had never seen anyone play softball before. To Shannon and I, it was fascinating that they were so amused by the sport since we had been playing our whole lives. Each day we threw at the castle at least a few people, some Danish and others foreign, would stop and ask us what we were doing and ask if they could join.

WHY STUDY ABROAD? – (ENDICOTT STUDY ABROAD WEBSITE)

Following the College's philosophy to "learn by doing" through experiential learning, the study abroad program & its international internships prepare students at Endicott for success by offering alternative academic understanding, social & cultural literacy and life-changing experiences. Through semester-long academic study, faculty-led trips, and/or 3-to-15 week internships abroad, students gain new confidence and self-awareness and obtain the skills necessary for success in today's economy.

"Globalization is here to stay, and students who want to work in our interconnected global world should study or intern abroad.

Despite the inevitable increasing global competition for jobs, American graduates lack the international experience, language capabilities and cross-cultural communication skills necessary to succeed in the global economy.

Making education abroad a part of their college education is the most effective and accessible means for students to develop needed skills because it pushes a student to get out of her comfort zone to experience another culture, language, environment and education system. It teaches students to appreciate difference and diversity firsthand and enables them to recognize — and then dismiss — stereotypes they may have held about people they had never met.

Learning how to interact with people from other countries and cultures equips future leaders in all sectors to address urgent issues — from curing diseases and finding energy solutions, to fighting terrorism and hunger — shared across borders."

The Endicott Experience feature aims to highlight the entirety of the student-athletes' experiential learning journey throughout their academic careers. The student-athlete at Endicott is afforded the same opportunities as the general student population at the College as it relates to internships, study abroad, and postgraduate career pursuits. This philosophy mirrors the mission statement of the College which every student is encouraged to take intellectual risks, pursue scholarly and creative interests, contribute to the community, and explore diverse career paths. Read more Endicott Experience features by navigating the links below.

INTERNSHIP: Fall 2015 | 2014-15 Internships | Fall 2016 Semester-Long | Gulls "Learn By Doing" On Winter Break | 442 Student-Athletes Complete Internships During 2016-17 Academic Year
STUDY ABROAD: Women's Lacrosse Teammates Gill and McMahon Study in Dublin, Ireland | Ryan Healy Studies Abroad in Europe | Studying Abroad as a Student-Athlete at Endicott | James Dwyer Focuses on Opportunities Abroad in Switzerland with Les Roches Global Hospitality | Endicott Student-Athletes Study Abroad in Asia | Holly Erbe Studies Abroad in London, Paris, Amsterdam | Andrea Courtemanche Gains New Perspectives Through Study Abroad Trip | Shelby Elwell Catches Travel Bug From Study Abroad Experiences | Erica Hadad Studies Abroad In Ireland
ACADEMICS: Emily Sharpe and Eric Owens Balance STEM and Sport at Endicott | Daquan Sampson Always Willing To Learn, On The Court & In The Classroom
CAREER OUTCOMES: Internships Lead To Career Outcomes | 2015 Graduates Find Immediate Success in Job Market | The Relationship Between Athletics & Academia At Endicott